July 2020 Book Reviews and Recommendations

I have been reading, reading, and reading especially since our normal summer activities are not happening this year. This month I read a wide variety and have both a four-star and a five-star review for you. If I get the time, maybe I’ll put out four more book reviews later this month. I hope you find something great to read from my recommendations below.

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Happy and You Know It

In Happy and You Know It, a young woman gets dropped from her band right before they get famous with a song she helped write.  Now she sings baby songs for a mommy and me playgroup of wealthy women in NYC.  The host of the playgroup is Insta-famous for her picture-perfect life but not all may be as it seems. 

There are definitely a few twists in this story I didn’t see coming.  The book is a little silly but perfect for a beach read or if you are needing something light.  This is not a very relatable book but it’s not meant to be.  Quite enjoyable for a fast, summer read.

   

A Good Neighborhood

This book is extremely timely and I found it hard to put down. Although fiction, I really had to process my feelings after reading this one. Themes regarding race, class, entitlement, and the judicial system are prevalent.

A Good Neighborhood is about new neighbors. A white family has built a mansion and their neighbors to the back are a single Black mom and her teenage son. The mom is worried that the new construction is resulting in her treasured tree dying. Meanwhile, the white family’s virginal teen daughter begins a secret relationship with her black neighbor’s son.

I’m sure you can understand where the book heads in terms of storyline but I promise there will be elements even you find surprising. I did enjoy how sometimes the narrator speaks directly to the reader which adds a little uniqueness. Overall, I highly recommend this book.

   

The Jetsetters

The Jetsetters felt very amateurish to me. Maybe I was expecting too much? I thought each character’s storyline didn’t develop to where it should or even have enough backstory. Also, the end seemed very abrupt and didn’t wrap everything up as it should have.

The basis of the story is that a woman enters a contest to win a Mediterranean cruise for her and her three adult children. She’s feeling very disconnected from them and lonely. This cruise might bring them all together as a family again.

All three of her children have their own personal issues (a failing career, an alcoholic who has yet to come out of the closet, and marital problems). The family has communication issues and disfunction from their upbringing.

The story isn’t light or funny at all. The characters just seem a little pathetic and immature. A book with this title should maybe focus more on the travel aspect? In summary, I felt the book was choppy and not well-formed. I think there are better books you should read before picking this one up.

   

The Henna Artist

In The Henna Artist, a woman leaves her life of poverty and her abusive husband to make a new life for herself.  She is taught the art of henna and has an immense talent for it.  After becoming quite popular and building a very successful business, she now wants an audience at the palace to secure her station in life. Suddenly, an unknown sister shows up in her life. Will this younger sister be an asset or a hindrance to her lofty plans?

This book was fascinating to me. My favorite college course was the history of India and this book really made me want to take that class all over again (maybe without the tests though!). It takes place in the mid-1950s right after the British have left. Topics including class, reputation, eastern medicine, and gender inequality are interwoven to make this a wonderful story. Read this, especially if you like historical fiction!

   

Need more book recommendations? Take a look at my June Book Reviews and Recommendations.